cancel
KAN-sl
Cancel (verb) means to call off or stop something planned from happening. Example: “We had to cancel the picnic because it rained all afternoon.”
verb
1
To call off or stop something planned from happening.
"We had to cancel the picnic because it rained all afternoon."
"They had to cancel the concert due to bad weather."
"She cancelled her gym membership after moving house."
2
To make something officially invalid.
"The bank will cancel your card as soon as you report it stolen."
"Once the contract is cancelled, you no longer have to pay the monthly fee."
"The airline cancelled his ticket after the missed connection."
3
In mathematics, to remove a common factor from both parts of a fraction or equation.
"To simplify the fraction, cancel the common factor of four from top and bottom."
"When you cancel the x terms, the equation becomes much easier to solve."
"You can cancel the 3s on both sides of the equation."
4
Informally, to withdraw public support from someone over controversial behaviour.
"Some people want to cancel any celebrity who says something offensive in public."
"The singer feared fans would cancel her after the old video went around online."
"The actor was cancelled online after the leaked messages surfaced."
How to use cancel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop, undo, or invalidate something — from an event to a subscription to (informally) a person's public standing.
Common pairings
cancel an order
cancel a subscription
cancel culture
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Word forms
- Plural
- cancels
- Third person singular
- cancels
- Past tense
- canceled, cancelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We had to _____ the picnic because it rained all afternoon.
Etymology
From Latin cancellare, "to cross out with lines", from cancelli, "a lattice" — the same root that gives us "cancel" as crossing something out with crisscross marks.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “cancel” mean?
The word “cancel” means to call off or stop something planned from happening. In plain terms, to stop, undo, or invalidate something — from an event to a subscription to (informally) a person's public standing.
How do you pronounce “cancel”?
“Cancel” is pronounced KAN-sl (/ˈkæn.sl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “cancel” in a sentence?
Here is “cancel” used in a sentence: “They had to cancel the concert due to bad weather.”
What is another word for “cancel”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cancel” include abrogate, annul, belay, cease, cross out and desist.
What is the opposite of “cancel”?
The opposite of “cancel” — its antonyms — are commission, continue, initiate, renew and uphold.
What part of speech is “cancel”?
“Cancel” is a verb.
Where does the word “cancel” come from?
The word “cancel” comes from Latin. From Latin cancellare, "to cross out with lines", from cancelli, "a lattice" — the same root that gives us "cancel" as crossing something out with crisscross marks.
Is “cancel” a common word?
“Cancel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between cancel and postpone?
To cancel something is to call it off so it does not happen at all, while to postpone something is to move it to a later time so it still takes place. A cancelled meeting is off entirely, but a postponed meeting is simply rescheduled. The two are often confused when plans change.
Is it spelled cancelled or canceled?
Both spellings are correct, differing by region. British English usually doubles the l to give cancelled and cancelling, while American English often uses a single l in canceled and canceling. The base verb cancel and the noun cancellation are spelled the same way in both.
What is the difference between cancel and annul?
Both cancel and annul can mean to make something officially invalid, but annul is more formal and legal, often used for marriages or laws. Cancel is the everyday word and applies broadly to events, subscriptions, and plans. You would cancel a booking but annul a contract in legal language.
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